Peschisolido's late burst stuns Palace

Sheffield United 3 Crystal Palace 1

As late substitutions go, Paul Peschisolido's appearance for Sheffield United after 83 minutes at Bramall Lane last night will take some beating. Within five minutes of leaving the bench, the Canadian striker had scored twice to send United through to the semi-finals of the Worthington Cup for the first time in their history.

This quarter-final looked to be heading into extra time after a spirited Crystal Palace fightback in the second half had been rewarded with an equaliser after 81 minutes.

Neil Warnock, the United manager, responded with a double substitution and within two minutes of his arrival Peschisolido had flicked Peter Ndlovu's cross over Alex Kolinko to restore the home side's lead. Television replays showed that Peschisolido was offside, but Palace's protests were waved aside. Remarkably, the diminutive striker scored again two minutes later, nudging the ball past Kolinko from close range.

It was a sweet moment for Peschisolido, who is the husband of Birmingham City's managing director, Karren Brady, and was sold by Trevor Francis within two weeks of his arrival at St Andrews as manager six years ago.

Francis, now manager of Palace, was disappointed that Peschisolido's first goal was allowed to stand and said that Andy Johnson, his striker, was adamant that he had been fouled by Stuart McCall in the penalty area in the first half. "The difference tonight was on the bench," Francis added, pointing out that he had 11 players unavailable. Palace had five players on the bench with fewer than a dozen first-team starts for the club between them.

Warnock, meanwhile, said he had looked at his players after Palace's equaliser and immediately decided on the double substitution. "We looked deflated and I knew I had to do something,'' he said.

United had had the better of a scrappy first half , taking the lead after 35 minutes through Carl Asaba, who grew up as a Palace supporter. Phil Jagielka headed Michael Tonge's corner back across the goal and Asaba drove home the loose ball.

Palace had started tentatively but responded well. Tommy Black created several openings with his trickery and Johnson's pace was a constant threat.

It seemed that Palace would go unrewarded until Black's cross from the left after 82 minutes. As a swarm of players converged on the near post, the ball appeared to be knocked over the line by Robert Page, the United captain. Warnock's team had been on the backfoot for most of the second half, but there could be no faulting their response and Warnock's bold substitutions.

This was United's fifth successive home draw in the competition and they have taken full advantage. Warnock's side have lost only once at home this season and their Worthington Cup run had claimed two Premiership victims, Sunderland and Leeds. With United pushing hard for promotion and Wednesday propping up the First Division table, it is a good time to be a Blades fan in the steel city.

Sheffield United (4-4-2): Kenny; Jegielka, Murphy, Page, Harley; Ndlovu, Brown, McCall (Montgomery, 83), Tonge; Asaba (Peschisolido, 83), Allison. Substitutes not used: Kozluk (gk), Ten Heuvel, Javary.

Crystal Palace (5-2-1-2): Kolinko; Butterfield, Powell, Symons, Antwi (Borrowdale, 65), Gray; Mullins, Riihilahti; Black; Johnson, Adebola (Williams, 78). Substitutes not used: Michopoulos (gk), Heeroo, Togwell.

Referee: E Wolstenholme (Lancashire).